Tough Week for Wal-MartFirst, they lost a Saskatchewan court appeal of a
Labour Board ruling ordering them to turn over documents to the UFCW, including
their labor relations bible, Wal-Mart: a Manager's Toolbox to Remaining Union
Free.

Then they had to accept a Chinese government order to
recognize unions at 39 stores in China employing 20,000 people. Though they
clearly don’t like unions in principle they can take comfort in the fact that,
unlike the Canadian UFCW, the only legally permitted government-controlled
unions in China are strictly sweetheart arrangements.

Later in the week Wal-Mart issued a statement that, while
reaffirming their opposition to "third-party" representation for their
"associates," they will graciously comply with labor laws in the countries in
which they operate.

If all this wasn’t bad enough, a Wal-Mart heiress lost her
purchased naming rights to the University of Missouri’s basketball arena in
Columbia. It seems there was a little unpleasantness about her alleged paying
for term papers while a student at Southern Cal. The Tiger’s home will now be
known as Mizzou instead of Paige.

Theoretically SpeakingIn the beginning there was the state of Tennessee
and a teacher named Scopes. More recently, there was the Kansas state board of
education, and Cobb County, Georgia. Now Dover, Pennsylvania is getting on board
the train that will leave no student behind to be corrupted by the teaching of
Evolution as science.

"Because Darwin's theory is a theory, it is still being
tested as new evidence is discovered," a statement on their school board web
site said. "Gaps in the theory exist for which there is no evidence."

No word yet over when they might caution about other
dubious theories such as the earth being spherical in shape, or this invisible
magnetism that supposedly keeps us from flying off into space–gravity, I think
they call it.

US Labor Against the War
US Labor Against the War was launched in January, 2003 with the objective of
bringing the issue of the Iraq war into the labor movement–and bringing labor
into the antiwar movement. I will be representing
Kansas
City Labor Against War at a national conference of USLAW
affiliates, meeting in Chicago December 4-5. A
summary of USLAW’s accomplishments since
its last national gathering in October, 2003 was recently posted on their
web site.
It is quite impressive. Some highlights:

* Helping to pass resolutions calling for "End the
Occupation -- Troops Home Now" at the conventions of SEIU, CWA, AFSCME, APWU,
Mail Handlers (LIUNA) and the state labor federations in California, Wisconsin,
Washington and Vermont.

* Helping to draft Proposition N in San Francisco, a
ballot initiative that registered 64% of voters in favor of an end to the
occupation of Iraq and return of U.S. troops to their homes and families.

* Raised $10,000 for the USLAW Iraq Labor Solidarity Fund
which was given to the two Iraq labor federations last summer.

* More than 1500 activists have signed up as individual
members.

These are considerable accomplishments for an ad hoc group
operating on a shoe-string budget.

Budget will be a major topic of discussion. While the
lion’s share of USLAW work is carried out on a volunteer basis by union leaders,
activists, and retirees, there is a need for a modest full-time staff who
require a living wage and an office to work in. Printing, postage, travel, the
web site, telephone, are expenses that can’t be covered on the run by personal
donations. More money and in-kind contributions from affiliated unions are
needed. And every opponent of the war can help by
signing up or renewing individual membership.

The meeting will certainly discuss how to continue and
expand our educational efforts, getting union positions adopted against the war,
and promoting solidarity with Iraqi workers.

I think, in addition to these projects focused on the
labor movement, USLAW also needs to contemplate what can be done to rejuvenate
and refocus the broader antiwar movement that does not seem to have yet
recovered from distraction and diversion during the election campaign. Aside
from the anti-Bush demonstration at the Republican convention there has been no
mass national demonstration against the war in over a year. No future action has
been announced.

I think USLAW should consider taking the initiative in
calling for massive demonstrations in Washington and San Francisco on March
19–the second anniversary of the invasion–around the theme, "End the
Occupation–Bring the GIs Home Now." I believe such a call would be supported by
some important unions and could draw together United For Peace & Justice, the
various antiwar veterans and military families organizations, the folks who
built the Million Worker March, and others.

Such an initiative would be unusual for a labor formation.
During the Vietnam, Central America, and around Iraq so far movements, unions
had always deferred to traditional peace groups to set the agenda, endorsing
actions called by others.

Unfortunately, today’s peace movement does not, at least
yet, measure up to what was built during the Vietnam war. It was disappointing
to see the offensive in Falluja claim so many lives on both sides with no
significant response from peace groups.

Labor should not be shy about stepping up to the plate to
fill this leadership void and try to bring visibility to the widespread
sentiment among the American people against the war.

Labor Party INC MeetingShock and despair were the dominant reactions
among union activists that fought so hard to defeat Bush. But all is not
hopeless. Labor
Party national organizer Mark Dudzic said it well in his
excellent article, After the Elections: What Next?,

"Sometimes a defeat can act as a catalyst for change. The
crushing of the Pullman Strike over 100 years ago led unions to reconsider how
they organized workers and led Eugene Debs to organize a new movement that broke
with the Democratic and Republican parties. The activism unleashed by this
year's election changed many people's lives. Fed up with Bush and all that he
represents, they yearn for a better world. We must speak to those millions and
build a new politics of hope. We must reach out to those who have fallen under
the sway of populist conservative demagogues and present them with an
alternative that will make a real difference in their lives. We must convince
those who have concluded that politics is nothing more than a corrupt rich man's
game that activism can bring real change. We must build a Labor Party out of the
ashes of this election."

On December 10, the Labor Party Interim National
Council–the party’s highest body between conventions–will meet. I plan to attend
representing Midwest chapters. There is sure to be a lively discussion about
LP’s post-election strategy and I will report on the decisions coming out of
that gathering.

***

Because I will be on the road for about two weeks the
Daily Labor
News Digest will not be updated between after December 1 until
December 14. And I’m afraid there will be no more Weeks In Review until after my
return.